Fruit-washing machine



De. 2 4, 1929. N. J. OFSTAD FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, 1929. N. 'J. oFsTAD FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WENTOR NICHOLAS J OFsmD BY Y MW Dec. 24, 1929. OFSTAD 1,740,869

FRUIT WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1925 a fih'aets-sheet a gar EH15.)

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INVENTOR. NICHOLAS J. 0F5TAD .ATTORJVEYE Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE NICHOLAS J'. OFSTAD, OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM L. CONNOR, CF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FRUIT-VJASHING MACHINE Application filed August 31, 1925.

My invention relates to machines for washing fruit, and the purpose of my invention is the provision of a fruit washing machine of greatly increased capacity over machines heretofore, proposed, and one which operates automatically to thoroughly clean fruit of different sizes and contours and without in any way injuring the fruit.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a fruit washing machine which is adjustable to vary the duration and intensity of the washing or scrubbing operation, thus rendering it adaptable to the cleaning of fruit having surface contaminations of different characters.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a fruit washing machine which is extremely compact in construction so as to occupy a minimum amount of floor space, yet possessing the desirable property of maximum capacity.

I will describe only one form of fruit washing machine embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view showing in top plan one form of fruit washing machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a skeleton frame F of rectangular outline, such frame including lower transverse beams: 15 at intervals along the length of the frame, to which beams are secured angle brackets 16. To the brackets 16 are secured sleeve bearings 17 in which are journaled stub axles 18 which constitute parts of movable brush elements E, E and E As plainly shown in Figure 3, certain of the stub axles are of in creased length and are provided at their lower ends with miter gears 19 constantly in mesh with similar gears 20 fixed to the driving shaft 21 extending beyond one side Serial No. 53,668.

of the frame and provided with a pulley 22 to which power is adapted to be applied by any suitable means (not shown) for constantly driving the shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3.

The movable brush elements in addition to including the stub axles, each comprises a gear 23 fixed to the upper end of the corresponding stub axle, while above the gear is a brush 2 f clamped to the gear by means of a nut 25 on the upper end of the stub axle and a washer 26. As shown, the brush 24 is of disk form, with the bristles thereof extending upwardly and decreasing in length from the center to the periphery, so as to present a conical brushing surface. The diameter of the brush is less than the diameter of the gear, so that the teeth of the latter will project beyond the periphery of the brush for meshing engagement with the gears of adjacent brush elements, and with what I term the master brush elements driven by the shaft 21, it will be clear that the several gears 23 will operate to continuously rotate all of the remaining brush elements and, in difierent directions, as will be described hereinafter.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that I have provided three sets or series of movable brush elements, the elements of the sets being distinguished by the reference characters E, E and E The sets E and E extend longitudinally of the frame F, and the elements of each set are arranged in staggered relation, and with the gears 23 thereof in meshing relation it will be clear that adjacent brushes 24: are rotated in opposed directions. The set E is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the brush elements of the set E, and in staggered relation to the inner row of the set with their gears in meshing relation to the gears of the inner row, so that the latter serve to drive the former and in directions opposed to those of the inner row.

In connection with the several sets of movable brush elements, I employ stationary brush elements, one set for each set of movable brush elements, and with the elements of each set extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged in staggered relation,

as clearly shown in Figure 1. These stationary brush elements are supported above the brushes 24 with portions thereof disposed radially of certain of the brushes and the remaining portions disposed tangentially of the remaining brushes, in order that the stationary brush elements may serve to guide fruit deposited on the brushes progressively from one brush to the other throughout those of any one set.

Each stationary brush element is designated at L but to distinguish the elements of the three sets I employ the reference characters S, S and S to correspond to the sets of movable brush elements E, E and E. As clearly shown in Figure 3, each stationary brush element comprises a back 27 having bristles extending from one side thereof to form a brush 28. In order that the scrubbing or brushing action of each stationary brush element may be varied at will, the element is mounted for lateral adjustment through the medium of a bracket 29 secured to and extending upwardly from the back 27, so as to project through a slot formed in a cross bar 30 secured to the frame F and extending transversely of the latter. The upper end of the bracket 29 is threaded to receive nuts 31 disposed above and below the cross bar, so as to permit secure clamping of the bracket and, hence, the brush, in any laterally adjusted position. As shown in Figure 3, the cross bar 30 is formed with a plurality of thickened and anticlinal portions 32, one for each of the brackets 29, and these portions are slotted to permit adjustment of the brackets lengthwise of the portions, whereby it will be seen that the angular position of the brackets can be varied, thereby permitting the brushes 28 to be tilted inwardly or outwardly to increase or decrease the brushing action with respect to the fruit.

It is desirable in a machine of this character to discharge the fruit from the rotary brushes 24 before the fruit has traversed all of the brushes of any one set, as in certain instances the fruit to be washed is only slightly contaminated, and hence requires only a minimum washing to render it clean. To this end, certain of the stationary brush elements are supported to swing about pivots 33 in order that they may be moved to the dot-and-dash line positions shown in Figure 1, in which positions they function to permit the rotary brushes to discharge the fruit therefrom and onto suitable conveyors provided for the purpose. These pivoted stationary brush elements are preferably disposed medially of the ends of the sets of elements, and as shown in Figure 1 are capable of being simultaneously moved to fruit discharging position through the medium of an operating rod 34 pivotally connected to two of the pivoted brush elements, as indicated at 35, and operatively connected to the third brush element by means of a link 36 and a lever 37 fulcrumed at the point indicated at 38, and having a pin-and-slot connection with the free end of the third brush element.

With this arrangement it will be seen that when moving the operating rod 34 inwardly of the frame from the position shown in Figure 1 the several pivoted brush elements will be swung to fruit discharging position, while when returning the operating rod to the position the brush elements will be restored to fruit confining position with respect to the rotary brushes.

For supplying contaminated fruit to the several sets of rotary brushes preparatory to the cleaning of the fruit, I provide at one end of the frame F a roller conveyer K, Figure 1, in fruit discharging relation to three inclined troughs T, T and T one for each set of rotary brushes. The trough T delivers the fruit to the master rotary brush or that brush at the forward end of the set E. The trough T delivers the fruit to the corresponding rotary brush of the set E", and the trough T delivers the fruit to the lower stretch of an endless belt B trained about pulleys 39 at opposite ends of the frame F. With fruit discharged onto the lower stretch of the belt B it will be clear that with the belt moving in direction of the arrows in Figure 2, such fruit will be ultimately discharged onto that rotary brush of the set E at the discharge end of the machine as shown by the dotted arrows along the belt B in Figure 1. As a continuation of the trough T elongated panels 40 are arranged at opposite sides of the lower stretch of the belt B for confining the fruit upon the belt. At the discharge end of the panels 40 diagonal and relatively short panels 41 are provided for guiding the fruit onto the rotary brush, as will be understood.

Subsequent to the washing of the fruit by the brushes of the several sets, the fruit is discharged from the right hand end of the machine, as when viewed in Figure 1. That fruit discharged from the set of brushes E is delivered onto an endless belt B trained about pulleys 42 (Figure 2) journaled in hangers 43. This belt is driven by power applied to a shaft 44 so as to continuously move the upper stretch of thebelt in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, so that fruit discharged thereon from the set E- will be conveyed forwardly and ultimately deposited into a suitable receptacle provided for the purpose. The fruit discharged from the set of rotary brushes E and E is likewise deposited upon the upper streteh of the belt B and thus fed forwardly to the receptacle. The fruit discharged from the brushes E is deposited into a trough T and then onto an endless belt B trained about pulleys 45, and a third pulley 45 which latter is fixed to the drive shaft 21 (Figure 3) whereby the upper stretch of the belt is continuously driven toward the discharge end of the machine to deliver the fruit deposited thereon into the receptacle; The belt B is driven from the shaft 44, a belt and pulley connection 46 being provided for the purpose.

To wash the fruit during the scrubbing operation, I have provided a plurality of spray pipes P, P and P one for each of the sets of rotary brushes E, E and E These spray pipes extend longitudinally of the frame and are disposed to discharge streams of water onto the stationary brushes 28, as well as the rotary brushes 24, all as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The spray pipes are secured in brackets 47, the latter in turn being secured to the frame F, and water is supplied to the several pipes through a master supply pipe 48 (Figure 1).

In the operation of the machine the fruit deposited onto the master rotary brush of either setE or E is subjected to the scrubbing action of this rapidly rotating brush and is simultaneously moved by the contact with the bristles of the adjacent stationary brushes 28, it being understood that water from the corresponding pipe P or P is discharged downwardly onto the fruit, thus loosening the surface contaminations and permitting the brushes to remove the same. From the master rotary brush, the fruit, under the guiding action of the adjacent stationary brushes, is delivered to the next rotary brush in advance, and as the latter is rotating in a direction opposed to that of the master rotary brush, it will be clear that the fruit while being scrubbed is conveyed forwardly to the third rotary brush and, of course, under the guiding action of the adjacent stationary brushes. In this manner, the fruit is successively conveyed from one rotary brush to the other throughout the entire set and is finally discharged from the endmost brush onto the belt B or B It is to be particularly noted that under the rotative movement of the several brushes, the fruit is projected through arcuate paths and into contact with the bristles of the stationary brushes 28, thus causing the latter to effectively scrub the fruit, and in conjunction wit-h the scrubbing action of the rotary brushes effect a thorough cleaning of the surface of the fruit.

Fruit from the trough T discharged onto the lower stretch of the belt B is finally delivered to the forward rotary brush E as has been described, and because of the arrangement of the rotary and stationary brushes of the set E and S it will be manifest that the fruit will be successively conveyed from one rotary brush of the set E to the adjacent rotary brush of the inner row of the set E, and so on throughout the entire length of the two sets. As indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, the fruit under the action of the rotary brushes of the sets E and E moves in a direction opposed to that of the fruit as conveyed by the brushes E, and such fruit is finally discharged onto the belt B as has been described.

If it is desired to increase the scrubbing action of the stationary brushes 28, they can be adjusted as has been described, so as to decrease the angular relation with respect to the surfaces of the rotary brushes, which obviously increases their scrubbing action because of the restricted passage provided for the fruit. It is to be noted that the conical form of the rotary brushes tends to throw the fruit into scrubbing engagement with the stationary brushes.

If it is desired to discharge the fruit from the rotary brushes of any one set before such fruit has completely traversed the entire set, the pivoted brush elements can be swung to fruit-discharging position, as has been described, and with the elements in this position it will be clear that fruit from the elements E will be discharged onto the upper stretch of the belt B, while fruit from the element-s E and E will be discharged onto the belts B and B, respectively.

The water as discharged from the brushes subsequent to the washing operation is received in a tray 49 secured within the frame F and inclined as shown in Figure 2, so that the water will drain to a discharge pipe 50.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of fruit washing ma chine embodying my invention, is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fruit washing machine comprising movable brush elements rotatable about vertical axes and arranged in staggered relation, means for driving the elements so that adjacent elements rotate in opposed directions. and stationary brush elements associated with the movable brush elements, so that fruit deposited on the latter will be conveyed successively from one movable brush element to the other through arcuate paths and successively into scrubbing contact with the stationary brush elements.

2. A fruit washing machine comprising movable brush elements arranged in sets one beside the other with the elements of each set disposed in a horizontal plane, arranged in staggered relation and rotatable about vertical axes with adjacent elements rotatable in opposed directions, and stationary brush elements arranged in sets one set for each set of movable brush elements, the stationary brush elements being associated with the movable brush elements so that fruit deposited on the latter will be conveyed successively from one movable brush element to the-other through arcuate paths and successively into scrubbing contact with the stationary brush elements.

3. A fruit washing machine as embodied in claim 2 wherein a plurality of movable brush elements are associated with one of the first sets to coact with certain of the elements of said set in forming a third set of movable brush elements operating in the same manner as the first sets. and a third set of stationary brush elements associated with the movable brush elements of the third set to convey fruit deposited thereon successively from one movable brush element to the other but in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of fruit on the first set of movable brush elements.

4. A fruit washing machine as embodied in claim 2 wherein means is provided for conveying fruit above the several sets of movable brush elements and depositing the fruit on the endmost element of the third set of movable brush elements.

5. A fruit washing machine comprising a longitudinal series of rotary brush elements arranged in staggered relation and with adjacent elements rotating in opposed directions, a second series of rotary brush elements longitudinally alined but disposed in alternate and staggered relation to certain of the elements of the first series and rotating in opposed directions thereto, and two series oi stationary brush elements associated with the movable brush elements to convey fruit dcposited thereon progressively along the movable brush elements and in opposed directions along the two series of movable brush elements.

6. A fruit washing machine comprising movable brush elements rotatable about vertical axes and arranged in staggered relation, and stationary brush elements disposed tangential ot' the movable brush elements to guide fruit successively from one movable brush element to another and to have brushing contact with the fruit while guiding the same.

7. A fruit cleaning machine, comprising a plurality of horizontally rotatable surfaces arranged in relatively staggered relation and adapted to rotate in directions opposite to each other, relatively stationary surfaces disposed tangentially of each rotatable surface and arranged to overlie the periphery of an adjacent rotatable surface, to direct the fruit from one surface to the next, said relatively stationary surfaces being each independently adjustable toward and away from the axes of the rotatable surfaces, and brush elements on said surfaces.

8. A fruit cleaning machine, comprising a plurality of movable brush elements and stationary brush element-s associated therewith to convey fruit, under the movement of the movable brushes, from one stationary brush element to the next and in a manner to cause co-action of the stationary and movable brush elements in cleaning the fruit, the stationary brush elements being arranged in staggered relation with adjacent elements and laterally adjustable to vary the space therebetween.

9. In a fruit cleaning machine, a plurality of mating horizontal rotary brushes arranged in rows side by side, and co-acting stationary brushes associated with the horizontal brushes to define a course over which the fruit is adapted to be impelled and serving as deflectors to progressively cause the fruit to be transferred from a brush of one row to a mating brush of the adjacent row.

10. In a fruit cleaning machine, a plurality of mating horizontal rotary brushes arranged in rows side by side, and co-acting stationary brushes associated with the horizontal brushes to define a course over which the fruit is adapted to be impelled and serving as deflectors to progressively cause the fruit to be transferred from a brush of one row to a mating brush of the adjacent row, and means to revolve the horizontal brushes of one row in an opposite direction to the brushes of the other rows.

11. In a fruit cleaning machine, two side by side rows of rotary horizontal brushes, means to drive all of the brushes of one row in the same direction and all other brushes or" said other row in an opposite direction, and brushes disposed in co-acting relation to the rotary brushes to define therewith a single course over which the fruit is adapted to travel.

NICHOLAS J. OFSTAD. 

